Past

Hot Scots

  • 1st December 2011 − 3rd June 2012

This display comprises some of Scotland’s most famous faces from Sir Sean Connery to David Tennant in a new collection of photographic portraits. Hot Scots, a display of 18 works recently acquired for the national collection, takes in a sweep of the nation’s contemporary culture and features Scottish names from TV, film and music including current Hollywood stars James McAvoy and Gerard Butler. Among the other new portraits on show will be images of Dr Who actor Karen Gillan, writer Armando Iannucci, singer Paolo Nutini, Michelin star chef Tom Kitchin and artist and playwright John Byrne. The portraits have been taken by celebrated photographers from Eva Vermandel to Albert Watson. This exhibition showcases the figures who are putting Scotland on the world’s radar in exciting, creative ways.

Hot Scots
Born in Paisley, it was Nutini’s music-loving grandfather who encouraged him to sing, sparking an interest in the music industry. He left school to work as a roadie and was then employed as a studio hand at Glasgow’s Park Lane studios. His career was launched somewhat by chance at a concert in Paisley in 2003. With the main act delayed, Nutini was offered the chance to perform. The following year he moved to London and was soon signed to Atlantic Records. His first album was released in 2006 followed by his second, award-winning album, in 2009. This photograph is an unusual portrait of the star. Not only does the abstract and unidentifiable background dominate the composition but the singer looks out of the frame as if distracted by something else.

Paolo Nutini, b. 1987. Singer Eva Vermandel

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Inspired by the TV series ‘Dr Who’ David Tennant wanted to become an actor from a very young age. Born in Bathgate, West Lothian, Tennant attended Saturday acting classes before being accepted into the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Tennant quickly won leading roles in a variety of TV productions, and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1996. Tennant is now a very well respected classical stage actor. He is also critically acclaimed as a TV actor. His most famous TV role came in 2005 when he realised his childhood dream to play the Dr in ‘Dr Who’. In 2007 Tennant was applauded for his portrayal of Hamlet in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of the play. This rather humble photograph shows Tennant looking straight at the viewer with his captivating brown eyes.

David Tennant, b. 1971. Actor Zed Nelson

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Born in Edinburgh, the aptly named Tom Kitchin studied catering at Perth College before beginning an apprenticeship at Gleneagles Hotel. He continued to gain experience at some of the world’s most prestigious restaurants, including the three-Michelin star La Tante Claire in London and the Guy Savoy in Paris. When he opened ‘The Kitchin’ in Leith in 2006 he gained a Michelin star within six months, making him the youngest chef to achieve such an accolade. The restaurant has won countless awards, including recently being voted Best UK Restaurant 2011 by Square Meal. This theatrical photograph shows the chef brandishing a shot gun surrounded by dead ducks and rabbits, evoking Kitchin’s “from nature to plate” philosophy.

Tom Kitchin, b.1977. Chef Murdo MacLeod

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Although born in Port Glasgow, McAvoy was raised by his grandparents in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow. His acting debut came in 1995 in ‘The Near Room’ but McAvoy did not consider acting as a career until he was accepted into the Royal Scottish Academy for Music and Drama. McAvoy became known for his role in the Channel 4 award-winning series ‘Shameless’ (2004), followed by ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ (2005). He has since gone on to star alongside Forrest Whittaker in the Academy award-winning film ‘The Last King of Scotland’ (2006) and Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman in ‘Wanted’ (2008). This is an intense and captivating photograph of the actor.

James McAvoy, b. 1979. Actor Eva Vermandel

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John Byrne has combined several careers - playwright, theatre designer and artist. In his most famous play, 'The Slab Boys', Byrne drew on his experience as a paint mixer in a Paisley carpet factory. During the 1980s Byrne wrote the cult television series 'Tutti Frutti', followed by 'Your Cheatin' Heart'. This enchanting portrait is one of a series taken by David Eustace to help his friend, Glasgow-based fashion designer Deryck Walker, with an advertising campaign. Eustace felt some character was needed and so persuaded Byrne to model. Byrne is shown in an unusually coloured and visually striking suit. He looks down at the ground, which draws attention to his scuffed boots and the edge of the material backdrop.

John Byrne, b. 1940. Artist, dramatist and stage designer David Eustace

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Born in Paisley, Butler is one of the most sought after Hollywood actors of the moment. Although he studied law at Glasgow University, Butler did not enjoy his career choice and instead moved to London where he established himself as a stage actor in ‘Coriolanus’ and ‘Trainspotting’. His film debut came when he played Billy Connolly’s character’s younger brother in ‘Mrs Brown’ (1997). Following roles in ‘Dracula 2000’ and ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, Butler’s major break into Hollywood came in 2007 with his role of the Spartan king in ‘300’. He has gone on to star in films such as ‘Law Abiding Citizen’, ‘The Bounty Hunter’ and ‘Machine Gun Preacher’. This photograph was part of a portfolio in which Steven Spielberg looked back over the last twenty years and picked his favourite movies and actors.

Gerard Butler, b. 1969. Actor Sarah Dunn

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Born in Glasgow, Iannucci studied English literature at Oxford University. However, after starting a PhD he decided to abandon his studies in favour of a career in comedy. Rising quickly through BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 4, Iannucci first made a name for himself as the producer of the critically acclaimed radio show, ‘On the Hour’, in which Steve Coogan premiered his now iconic character, Alan Partridge. In 2005 Iannucci created the political sitcom, ‘The Thick of It’ and following funding from the UK Film Council, he directed an Academy award-nominated film, ‘In the Loop’ (2009), which featured characters from ‘The Thick of It.’ In 2011 Iannucci was presented with the Writers' Guild of Britain Award at the British Comedy Awards. In 2012 he received an OBE for services to broadcasting.

Armando Iannucci, b. 1963. Comedian, writer and director Linda Nylind

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Born in Inverness, Karen Gillan decided at a young age that she wanted to become an actress. Aged sixteen she moved to Edinburgh to study at Telford College before being accepted into London’s Italia Conti School, Britain’s oldest theatre arts school. However, she left school after being offered a part in an episode of the TV series ‘Rebus’. Once this was complete Gillan was left without an acting job or a place at school so ended up working in a pub before being spotted by a modelling agency. In 2009 she landed the role which launched her career, as Amy Pond in the BBC series ‘Dr Who’.

Karen Gillan, b. 1987. Actress Suki Dhanda

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